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•| A not so stolen youth |•

Stranger things / chapter 3

Summary: Everything in life seemed limited to walls of whites and rainbows. Caged within the confines of the lab. But an accident that involved a group of teenagers and the upside down world finally let him free. In a funny turn of events he found himself hiding in a step sibling's shed. A redhead that loves video games and a blond that spends his time making sure to keep his good looks.

Character: Male child OC

Warnings: Possible to descriptive scenes, child abuse, use of drugs and bad language.

A/N: I ask you to take into account that I lack experience writing in English and there'll be some grammatical mistakes because my native language is Spanish.

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It was early in the morning, every kid was either at school or at home because they’re sick. All except for one.

Thirteen walked with tranquility through the groups of trees scattered all over the town. He found that the only onces that walked there were a few really young kids, other than that, the coast is completely clear.

But what is not completely clear is his mind. The day before he saw something that brought back awful memories. He found out, his father is not the only man like that in the world and he isn’t the only one like him out there. He would like to say that he doesn’t understand Billy completely, but he does.

The teenage has moments of calmness when he usually keeps to himself or even glances at him as if inspecting his soul, and moments of complete chaos when he is hostile against anything and anyone near him.

Billy was angry at his father, that much was evident, but he couldn’t do a thing because he knew it was useless. That was a feeling he could relate a little bit to well.

It happened too often to him in the lab. Loosing his papa’s respect brought a lot of punishment with it and answering it only left him in pain. His only solution was to hold back and resist. But that led to future explosions where he sent his guards flying or breaking an entire room with a scream.

He was labeled as dangerous and forced to stay isolated.

He was thinking of ways to help make him feel better but nothing came to mind other than a present.

But what?

Or maybe, some company? That’s what he wanted when he was in the lab. Maybe that’s what Billy needs at home.

Before he could think about other options, his senses detected something. He heard a pair of soft footsteps quite some distance further in front of him but instead of dreading to find the person a familiar feeling made itself present in the back of his mind. He waited.

As silent as ever, he walked cautiously towards the sound.

Both kids that found themselves in front of one another gasped in surprise. They know each other.

The curly haired girl smiled at the boy receiving a smile in return.

“Eleven.” Whispered the boy, walking closer to her.

“Thirteen.” Once close enough they engulfed each other in a big hug, giggling, happy to realize they both basically survived.

The kids pulled away, still connected by their arms, smiling like no other day.

They had so much to talk about.

“-and then, she taught how to skateboard.” Commented the boy with glee.

They have been talking for about an hour about what’s happened the last year after escaping the lab and getting in contact with the upside down. So far, everything’s been peaceful.

He was happy to know that she was also taken care off by a good guy, even though she puts a kind of weird expression when she mentions him, she stills seems to trust him a lot too.

“But…” he made a pause and sunk in the log they were both seating at the reminder of what happened a few hours ago. “Her papa…” he turned his eyes from his joined hands to the attentive look of eleven. “He is like our papa.”

Eleven gasped softly at the revelation.

“She and Billy hide me.” His lips curved a little at the sides. He always gets a warm and fluffy feeling in his chest at the reminder of people that care about his safety. “She gave me clothes.” He gripped the fabric of the blue hoodie in his chest. The same that keeps his body heat from escaping. “And a name. Magnus.”

Eleven gave him a close-lipped smile. They don’t know each other as well as she would like too because they were separated in the lab. They met only after the rest of the kids disappeared and their father needed more power to connect with the unknown world. But couldn’t interact that much in a friendly way under the scrutinizing eyes of their handlers. He always wore a frown accompanied with tired eyes. So she is happy to see him finally smile, even in the slightest.

“And you?” He asked, giving her the opportunity to express something that might be bothering her.

“Hopper is good.” She nodded. “But he lies.” The kid raised his eyebrows in surprise. “He says, one day I’ll leave to see my friends but that never happens. He promised soon, but soon never comes.”

Thirteen lowered his head in sadness. He knows that feeling, or he knew, before living with his only friend.

“He says it’s dangerous, that it’s for my protection.” The kid wrapped an arm around her in a side hug to comfort her.

In moments like that he wished he was more like magneto and fight for their freedom.

But he couldn’t, he was just a kid after all. All he could do was make her aware that she’s not alone.

A certain blonde haired teenage boy was currently tightening a screw on the engine of his blue baby Camaro.

He was finishing changing the air filter. After what happened the day before with his father he has been looking for ways to release some pent-up pressure. He already said goodbye to his last hook up an hour ago, he doesn’t know where Max is because she was late and he left her to skate home alone and he already worked out in the living room but nothing seemed to make his anger decrease.

Billy huffed once he was finished, cleaning the sweat in his forehead with the back of his dirtied hand. It wasn’t enough but that’ll have to do.

“Jesus.” Exclaimed the blond once he turned around and found the boy behind him, startling him. Weirdly attentive to what he was doing. “What the hell are you doing there? Are you a creep?” He asked with annoyance. He had almost sent the tool in his hand flying.

The kid just kept looking at him and the car with his big blue eyes and shrugged. He didn’t know what ‘creep’ means.

Billy raised a brow at the look of wonder in the kids face. He has seen it a few times before, directed to him, like trying to figure him out, which makes him edgy, but this time it was directed more to his car. “Never seen a car before?” He asked mockingly.

Unknown to him, the first time the boy saw a car was when he escaped from the lab. Ever since that day, the younger one has been greatly interested in the weird machines that roll faster than any adult he has ever seen runs.

Billy furrowed his brows when the only answer he got was the kid leaning his head to the side, still looking at the car.

Was he really that stupid? No, he couldn’t be. They would have already found him if that was the case, but he would have to live under a rock to not know what a car is.

“What, cat got your tongue, brat?” Thirteen shook his head and stick his tongue out to demostrarte it was still there making Billy huffed and turned to his car.

What a weird kid.

He grabbed the car’s hood and slam it shut to make sure it was closed.

“Cool.” Alluded the boy walking closer to the drivers side.

“What?” Thirteen glanced at Billy for a moment before returning to the inside of the vehicle repeating his word.

“Cool.” He is not completely sure if his using correctly the word Max taught him. ‘A word to describe something that’s better than amazing.’ Is what she said, and that is exactly what he thinks about the car.

“Huh, at least you have taste.” Said Billy as he wiped his hands in a towel he had hanging from his short’s waistband. Until he got an idea. Something that would help him destress and he used to do it a lot in California. “Hey brat.”

Thirteen turned towards Billy, not knowing what ‘brat’ means but understanding he wanted his attention. He blinked a few times, watching the weird look in the teenager’s eyes. He had an idea.

Billy would never in his life know what led him to do what he did, but the next thing he knows, he is driving top speed in one of the many lonely roads in the outer sides of Hawkins with the kid in the copilot seat. He loves to use the backroads.

He thought the kid would be scared shitless, however, the kid was grasping the seatbelt like his life depends on it (because it does) with the biggest smile Billy has ever seen.

But he doesn’t care that the kid didn’t get scared he was too concentrated in the adrenaline coursing through his veins at the speed to actually pay attention. He didn’t even light the cigarette between his lips because it wasn’t needed.

Billy whooped in ecstasy and bobbed along the surprisingly not so loud music. It was more important the roar of the engine than the beat coming from the stereo.

“That’s what I’m talking about.” Cheered Billy with his always sharp smile.

But that wasn’t the best part, he was waiting for the right moment to put his car modifications to the test. In a way he couldn’t in the crowded city of California.

His smile widened when he saw what he was looking for. A wide straight doble lane road.

It’s show time.

He stepped on the break and pulled the hand brake simultaneously, then turned the wheel completely to one side in a second. The car instantly followed the action, turning with so much force skidding the tires in the street. Making a U turn by drifting.

Billy laughed loudly while the kid beside him screamed for his life. The wheels scraped the floor until the vehicle came to a stop in the other side of the road. Facing the opposite direction.

Not waiting for anything, he pushed the hand break back down and step on the gas. The wheels screeched against the ground, leaving marks, before moving at full speed back to the house.

At the speed he was driving it only took him 10 minutes to arrive.

He got out of the car after killing the engine and lit the cigarette between his lips, taking a drag as if it was pure oxygen he was inhaling. Finally he felt a little bit better.

So lost in his relief he didn’t pay attention to the passenger in his car. He only turned his head back when he heard a thud. He found the passenger seat empty and the door opened. He huffed thinking the kid just left without closing the door but he stop when he went around the car and found the kid basically face planted in the dirt while giggling.

Billy scoffed a laugh almost sending the cigarette in mouth flying. He was positive the kid was high with adrenaline. He saw the kid try to stand up in his jelly legs only to fall on his side.

“What the hell?” Billy didn’t need to turn around to know who that was. He merely rolled his eyes when the redhead rushed by him to get to the kid. “What did you do to him?” She asked when the kid tried to stand up again with her help but stumbled to the side like he was drunk. She got even more confused when she heard him giggle.

“I fixed your damn brat.” He grumbled taking a drag of his cigarette before throwing it to the ground and returning to the house. He wanted to take a shower.

Max looked between the retreating back of her step brother and the kid seating in the dirt with a big smile in his face.

Could it be possible that Billy changed his mind?

No, that is not something Billy could ever do.

But either way, she was relieved that he was at least tolerating the kid’s presence.

If Max thought they had made a progress with Billy after the ride he had with Magnus. She was wrong.

The very next day his anger returned when he saw her talking to Lucas. There was no problem with that, she didn’t plan to be part of their club of hypocrites anyway.

Well, that was her plan, until the very next day she wanted to go to the arcade to play dig dug and forget everything only to be tricked in to the breakroom by Lucas himself. They argued about the veracity of the fanciful story Lucas told her ensuring that it was the truth.

Leaving the arcade Billy saw him at the door. At first he acted eerily calm while accusing her of disobeying and lying. But a silent threat was made evident later in the afternoon when Billy broke her skateboard when reversing in his car.

It was his way of telling her he could ‘accidentally’ break something without a problem.

He became a ticking time bomb and she didn’t want to be there to see it explode because she would be the collateral damage, and possibly with her, Magnus too. Even though he has mostly ignored the kid in the last days, it was obvious the anger he was holding in.

Taking every posible outcome Max took a decision. She’ll go back to Cali to her father and she’ll take Magnus with her.

The kid already had a new name, and no one will be looking for a kid in another city, miles away from were he was.

That’s how she found herself in this position. Fidgeting with her fingers inside her hoodie pockets, feeling the money between her fingers and watching attentively at Magnus sitting in her bed and messing with her Walkman.

She got the money by telling her mother that she wanted to buy a new shirt but she wanted the money to buy it herself and avoid any kind of harsh comments from Neil if she went with them to the mall in the neighboring town. Her mother, illusioned with the possibility of her daughter buying something more feminine, gladly gave her double the money she needed to buy the shirt. She thanked the heavens her mother did because she forgot the amount of money it’ll cost to buy two bus tickets.

She forgot a slight detail. The distance between her and her father was much more now that she is in Hawkins than when she was in Cali, and the tickets would be more expensive.

She already prepared two bags with things for her and Magnus. In that precise moment she has the perfect opportunity to leave with him. Her parents aren’t home and they’ll come back until night and Billy was too busy working on his muscles for his next hook up of the night to notice.

Gaining some courage Max sat next to the kid in her bed. She took a breath and spoke. “Mag-“

She was interrupted by the sound of the doorbell, someone calling at the door.

The kid raised his head, looking between Max and the bedroom’s closed door. He was to concentrated on the Walkman that he didn’t pay attention to the footsteps at the front door. It’s not like Billy’s blasting music trough the house helped at all.

He was already used to the volume of the music, but hearing it with the door open still hurt his head. At least the wood helps to drown out the sound. But he was still relieved that it’s not as loud as the alarms in the lab. That was a real headache.

He jumped from the bed when doorbell sounded again. He needed to hide. He turned to the window but stopped, if the person in the door somehow comes to the backside of the house he’ll be screwed. He turned to the bed. He doesn’t fit under it. As his last and only option, the kid threw himself inside the closet and closed the door, always leaving a crack to let the light come inside.

Max pressed her lips together trying to suppress a laugh. For a moment he looked like a headless chicken.

Her poorly covered smile disappeared when she heard her stepbrother yell at the next ring. “Max, are you getting that or what?”

Exasperated with him she yelled her answered “Okay.” She opened stood up stomping her way out of the room, closing the door behind her

“I swear to God Max.” Fumed the blond getting an eye roll and a glare from his sister when she walked by him. He just proceeded to lift the weights again.

From the closet, Magnus could slightly hear the door opening and closing over the music, along with Max’s voice from the other side of the door, indicating that now she was outside with whoever was at the door. He couldn’t tell what they were talking about because the music muffled their voices.

He waited for a moment, relieved that Max at least sounded like she knew the person outside. He was also aware that it wasn’t Neil, he could have heard his truck parking or his gruff voice booming in the house.

He waited a little while until she finally came back, closing the door behind her. She turned to Magnus watching the window in wariness. She knew why. Lucas was outside of the window. “Magnus.” She called for his attention.

He turned to her, blinking a few times.

“I… ammm.” She fidget in her place looking for the words to say. She didn’t know why she was so nervous, she just made up her mind and decided she’ll find out what’s really happening with Lucas and his group because deep down she still wishes to have friends. “I’ll live with the stalker for a few hours. He says he has proof or something.”

“Where?” Came the silent question from the kid. Max almost didn’t hear it with Billy’s blasting music coming through the door.

“To the old junkyard.” Magnus lifted a brown and tilted his head slightly to the side. There was nothing in there other than trash and forgotten stuff. Nevertheless, he nodded, understanding that she is going there like really few other teenagers do. “Okay, then. I’ll be back.” She said, making the reference of the terminator movie even though Magnus didn’t catch it.

She turned to one of the two opened windows. The one closest to the bed. She stepped on the woodshed outside before stopping and turning to Magnus who was seating in her closet.

“Don’t talk with Billy if he doesn’t talk to you, by the way. He’s not in the mood and can get cranky.” Magnus smiled at the thought but nodded again.

Don’t talk to Billy. Copy.

Max said a soft goodbye before exiting when she heard the boy outside telling her to speed up. He even heard her commenting that whatever they were doing better be worth it.

Minutes later after she left, Magnus stayed in her closet. He was to engrossed in the Walkman she borrowed him.

The interest came when he returned from the store he likes to visit (steal from) with a cassette tape he found behind the garbage dump.

He put on the headphones and changed the tapes the way Max instructed him to. He pressed play instantly jumping in his place and accidentally trowing the headphones. The volume was too high. Even with the headphones in the floor he could hear it clearly.

He decreased the volume to the minimum before putting the headphones back on. The rhythm of the music was somewhat similar to the songs Billy hears when exercising but not as scandalous. He turned the Walkman over to see the tape through the see through cover. The letters in the side said ‘Call Me by blondie’ and something else he couldn’t read due to the blurred sharpie. He likes it though.

He bobbed his head to the rhythm of the music, not caring that he could hear Billy’s music through the headphones. He liked it. He found his taste in music.

Still moving his head to the beat, he stood up and walked to the window farthest from the bed. He sat on the window sill dangling his feet for a couple of second before jumping out. He looked at the full woodshed beside him before returning to the shed. Walkman in hand.

He’ll wait for Max in there.

It’s been a few hours and Max still hasn’t retuned. Magnus got bored since he doesn’t know where Max’s tapes are and he can’t read so well, so he decided to steal an apple from the Hargroves’ fridge.

Meanwhile, the blond teenager was done exercising, taking a shower and currently sharpening his look before his date (hook up). He sprayed hair product in the hair locks that fell on his forehead. Turning over the bottle of colon, he spread a few drops of the liquid in his wrist, even going as far as to spread a little bit in the southern area.

He turned and posed in front of the mirror, smiling with satisfaction at the result. Taking a drag from his previously lit cigarette he leaned forward and blew the smoke against his reflexión, winking. Yep, he was ready.

His smile was erased once he heard someone calling at the door. He noticed the rush in the knock even over his blasting music. “Billy?” He knew that voice. The reason for witch his father decided it was a good idea to move.

Kind of.

“Yeah, I’m a little bit busy in here, Susan.” He answered uninterestedly.

“Open the door. Right now.” He mentally cursed when he heard his father’s commanding voice in the other side. There was no way around this.

Genuinely curious he finally opened the door finding his father frowning face and the always present worried face of Susan shielding herself behind the man.

“What’s wrong?” He cut to the chase.

Neil wasn’t at all impressed by his son’s bluntness. “Why don’t you tell us?”

“Because I don’t know.” He answered with obviousness in his tone. They just appeared in his door insinuating something that he isn’t aware of and yet, he is not surprised. Everything that goes wrong for Neil is always somehow his fault. No matter what.

“We can’t find Maxine-” Said Susan.

“And her window’s open.” Interrupted the man like the boss that he believes himself. Billy faltered for a second, looking in another direction before regaining himself. Even he was surprised. She was in her room with the brat a few hours ago. “Where is she?” Commanded Neil.

“I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?” Scoffed the Man like his son was the worst dumbass in the world, annoying the younger.

“Look, I’m sure she just, I don’t know, went to the arcade or something.” Explained Billy, still not finding the force in his voice, kicking himself for it, and panicking internally. To avoid looking at the rising anger in his father eyes he went to the closet to retrieve his previously selected leather jacket. “I’m sure she is fine.”

Nike wasn’t having any of it. “You were supposed to watch her.” He commented, like he was just making an obvious observation.

Billy could clearly hear the covered anger under those words. But he couldn’t stop himself from arguing. He was getting annoyed.

He sighed. “I know dad. I was. It’s just you guys were three hours late, and, well, I have a date.” He slipped on the jacket and turned towards the man ready to face it and just leave. “I’m sorry, okay?”

“So that’s why you’ve been staring at yourself in the mirror like some faggot instead of watching your sister?”

That did it.

“I have been looking after her all week, dad. Okay?” He snapped. “She wants to run off, then that’s her problem, all right?” Neil licked the interior of his cheek, concealing his anger with an eerie façade. “She’s 13 years old. She shouldn’t need a full-time babysitter. And she is not my sister.” He turned to the radio. Stopping the music abruptly only to feel his heart drop to his stomach when Neil grabbed him by the colar of his shirt and slammed him against the shelves beside the closet.

“What did we talk about?” Asked Neil in a condescending tone. Practically whispering it in Billy’s face.

The teenager panted in anger and fear. He couldn’t answer fast enough when Neil slapped him in his left cheek, making him groan.

Susan, who once again couldn’t leave the scenario only looked the other way, feeling guilty for putting him in that situation but not doing anything fearing she could be in his position.

Neil grabbed Billy’s chin to force him to look at him before pointing with the same hand. “What. Did. We… talked about?” He made emphasis in each word.

“Respect and responsibility.”

“That is right.” Answered the man, pleased to have him under control once again. “Now, apologies to Susan.”

There was silence for a few seconds. Neil waiting for Billy while the blonde swallowed his pride and fear. “I’m sorry, Susan.” He said, never tacking his eyes from his father’s.

“It’s okay, Neil, really-“ she was interrupted when the man once again rises his voice.

“No, it’s not okay. Nothing about his behavior is okay. But he’s gonna make up for it.” He grumbled the last part. He finally stepped back to turn to look at Susan. “He’s gonna call whatever whore he’s seeing tonight and cancel their date.” He said as if it was the most normal thing to say. “And then he’s gonna go find his sister. Like the good, kind, respecting brother that he is.” He turned once again to his son, already finished with the humiliation. “Isn’t that right, Billy?”

Billy looked at his father with watery eyes hiding all that hate and anger he harbors towards the man. If only he could make him pay or just leave.

“It’s that right?” Yelled Neil when his first answer was only silence.

“Yes, sir.” He said softly.

Neil sighted in annoyance, leaning closer to his son. “I’m sorry, I couldn’t hear you.”

“Yes. Sir.” He repeated. This time with more courage.

“Find max.” Demanded Neil with finality turning around and leaving the room, intimidating Susan enough for her to step away from his way.

Billy finally let the tears spill once the door was slammed close and hit the wall beside him. He hated him with all his being. He wanted to fight back, punch him or something, but the last time he tried to do it didn’t end well for him.

Sucking his feelings up and drying his tears, he left his room to the back of the house. He thanked the heavens he parked the car in the back really close to were he needs to go. The shed.

Faster than he thought, Billy reached the wooden door and gentler than he wanted to, he opened the door (still slamming it open). “Hey, brat.” He grumbled once inside.

Magnus raised his head looking at him with wide eyes. He knew it was Billy the one walking (stomping) towards the shed. But it still surprised him when the teenage barged in the shed and called for his attention, loudly.

Billy opened his mouth about to yell but stopped. He didn’t want to scare the kid that looked like a frightened rabbit ready to bolt and end up running around like a headless chicken looking for Max for scaring him, or for his father to find him hiding a kid in the shed and get his butt kicked.

Instead he took a breath before talking. “Where’s Max?”

The answer he got was the kid blinking in bewilderment hugging a comic to his chest.

“Ugh, for fucks…” he mumbled under his breath. “Do you know where is Max?” He repeated in a gentler voice, clearly containing his annoyance.

Magnus nodded his head slowly. Max told him to not talk to Billy if he didn’t speak to him first, she didn’t say anything about not telling him where she is.

Billy raised his eyebrows expectantly. “Okay, and?”

“The old junkyard.” He answered softly.

Damn. Now he is in trouble. He doesn’t know where that is. He slightly fidgeted in his place. “Do you know how to get there?”

Magnus nodded a slowly, still with the comic in his hands.

“Okay, then get in the car.”

Magnus instantly light up. He didn’t care that Billy used a commanding voice, he was just happy to get a raid again.

The kid quickly rushed out of the shed as silent as a mouse with an annoyed teenager following him.

Billy was already donde for the night, but unfortunately and unknown for him, it would be the longest and most eventful life of his entire life.

Hope you like the new rout I’m taking with this story.

•| A not so stolen youth |•

Stranger things / chapter 2

Summary: Everything in life seemed limited to walls of whites and rainbows. Caged within the confines of the lab. But an accident that involved a group of teenagers and the upside down world finally let him free. In a funny turn of events he found himself hiding in a step sibling's shed. A redhead that loves video games and a blond that spends his time making sure to keep his good looks.

Character: Male child OC

Warnings: Possible to descriptive scenes, child abuse, use of drugs and bad language.

A/N: I ask you to take into account that I lack experience writing in English and there'll be some grammatical mistakes because my native language is Spanish.

Prev part - Masterlist - Next part

To say that Billy was surprised is an understatement. A whole week came and went without any inconvenience.

The asshole he has as a father isn’t even suspicious that there’s basically a fifth person living with them. In the shed, but still under their roof.

He is never, ever, going to say it out loud but he admires the guts Max has to look at Neil during diners and give no hint of any other emotion than the hate and forced respect she already harbors towards the man.

He became a silent witness of her plan. Watching her pretend to be tired earlier in the nights and leave to her room to rest only to jump through her window the next second to hang out with the boy in the shed.

And talking about the boy. The only way Billy could describe him is, strange. The boy is as silent as a mouse. He appears and disappears without making a noise. Which is creepy in the most part but thankfully helpful.

The asshole of his father has been busy recreating his righteous façade in front of everyone in Hawkins to actually pay attention to any mistake or misbehavior he does.

He could even bet that it has been the best week he’s had in years.

As for Thirteen, he’s living the best three weeks of his entire life.

Clean clothes instead of a gown, a roof to protect him, outside of the lab, learning to read comics and with a real friend.

Max even brought him to the arcade once, in the night and when it was about to close. It didn’t end that well as she thought it would. That night she found out the boy has a sensitive hearing after he bolted out of the place. ‘Too much noise’ is what he said. Since the arcade wasn’t an option anymore she came up with another idea. She would teach him how to skate.

Fortunately, she had her skateboard with her.

It was to be expected that Thirteen would fall a few times, it was his first time in his life doing a physical activity and didn’t have any kind of coordination with his feet.

When they went back to the house, Thirteen was covered in dirt, a couple of bruises and scratches but he had such a big smile in his face that only by looking at it Max couldn’t help but do the same.

Little by little Thirteen has started to open more to Max and vice versa, making it obvious that he is comfortable with her. He likes to hear about her day in the school with the other kids, the way she tells the story of a group of stalkers reminds him of the way she reads the comics. And she likes that she can openly talk about whatever she wants without the fear o being judge.

Things are working better than they both expected.

Until the day everything would change finally arrived.

Halloween.

Max loves Halloween and she’s made it clear every time she tells him stories of what she did back in Cali. She wanted him to come with her this year but after what happened in the arcade he is a little uneasy.

Besides, the only reason he wanted to be part of a big group of kids was to make a friend. He was looking for someone to help him stop being alone, and now that he has Max there’s no reason to go out there that much. Now the fear of being found is the only thing that remains in his mind.

“Still don’t want to go with me?” Asked Max to the kid seating in her closet.

The boy smiled and shook his head.

“You could use a sheet to cover yourself completely like in the E.T. movie I showed you. The group of stalkers will be there…” at least, she hopes they’ll be there after her step brother almost ran over them with the car after school. “We’ll meet in the street for trick or treat.”Thirteen frowned a little, considering the pros and cons in his head but the worry was still evident in his face. “Still don’t want to?”

The boy pressed his lips together before shaking his head.

Max was internally disappointed but she understood his fear. She already tried running away to her biological father when she found out they were moving from Cali to Hawkins. She was just as paranoid and worried. She only lasted a few hours away from her house, and she doesn’t how log has the kid been hiding.

“Are we still up for sweets and comics, though?” She asked getting an instant nod from the boy with a big smile.

She was confused for a second when she saw his smile fall and glance at the door. The boy slide the door of the closet almost completely, avoiding being engulf by total darkness, just in time when her mother opened her bedroom door.

“Sweetie, do you have your costume yet?” She asked in her always flowery and nervous tone. Max still doesn’t get why she is so jittery with her own daughter.

“Yeah, this.” Max rose the mask of Michael Myers and fake knife she had in her hands. She already had her black coverall that belonged to her father on. The measures were changed to fit by Susan herself a year ago and fits perfectly.

Her mother gave her a little forced smile. “Are you sure? I could try to make something with the things in the closet. There’s still time.” She recommended, pointing at the closet in the hallway.

Max pressed her lips in a thin line. Comments like that are common from her mother. She knows that Susan would like to have a more feminine daughter. One that prefers to use make up. One that has girls as friends to go shopping with instead of boys to skateboard with in the neighborhood. One that likes princesses and romance instead of monsters and assassins.

But she wasn’t like that and she’s didn’t want to be like that.

“No. This is fine.” She said.

Her mother nodded with the forced smile still in her face. “Okay then. Am. Have fun.” Not knowing what else to say she turned back and closed the door behind her.

Max let out the breath she was holding. Why everything in her life has to be weird?

She turned to the closet when she heard it slide open. The boy looked at her with his brows furrowed in worry. She looked upset.

Max understood the look. Her friends used to look at her the same way back in Cali. “It’s just-“ She pointed at the door with her thumb but didn’t know what to say or to explain. “I-“ she was interrupted when Billy passed by the door saying her name in a singsong tone.

“Max~” Even though it sounded like he was happy Max could still identify the dangerous threat deep down.

“Just a minute.” She yelled when she heard his footsteps going further in the hall. She turned back to the kid as she walked backwards to the door. “Comics and sweets when I return?”

The boy nodded.

“Max. I’m leaving.” Shouted Billy from the front door, his singsong tone completely gone.

Feed up with him she opened the door and yelled her answers rushing down the hall. “I’m coming.”

Thirteen blinked a few times, watching in curiosity at the opened door. He still doesn’t understand their bond. They seem to care and know about the other but act so hostile.

Max closed the front door behind her, already out of the house, finding Billy leaning against his car with a lit cigarette in his mouth. He was invited to a costume party and yet, his costume was a leather jacket covering his shirtless torso, fingerless black gloves, dark jeans and his usual boots. That wasn’t even a costume, but when you have the popularity Billy does, nobody gives a shit.

“What, the rat is not coming to be a looser with you?” He asked taking the cigarette out of his mouth, taking a final drag and throwing it in the floor before opening the car’s door.

Max threw him a side glance, not at all agreeing with the way he speaks.

“He is a boy and no. He wants to stay.” Billy turned to his stepsister, looking at her over the car.

“The brat better not blow the cover because I swear to god Max.” He threatened.

Max rolled her eyes as she got in the passenger sit. As if she didn’t know what could happen if Neil finds the boy. “I already told you, nobody’ll know he is there.”

“Hey.” scolded the older boy once inside. “Watch. Your attitude.” He threatened, making a pause to be sure Max understand he is being serious.

She understood. Max looked at the front, avoiding the glare Billy threw at her.

He huffed in annoyance turning on the engine and driving out.

But he couldn’t help the question that lingered in his mind.

What kind of monster is that guy for the kid to rather stay in a strangers house than to go back home?

He slightly tightened his hold in the wheel.

He shouldn’t be thinking about it. It’s not like it’s his problem. Why should he care about a coward?

Unknown to the step-siblings on their way to celebrate halloween, Thirteen was still in Max’s room searching through the box full of comics a few that he could take to the shed.

Even though he can’t read that well he loves to watch the colorful pictures of the stories. Even more when those are telling Magneto’s story.

He feels like he can identify himself with him a little. Their powers are similar, they both can control things with their minds but magneto only controls metals while thirteen controls any kind of material.

But his story is the most intriguing. He sees magneto as someone really brave, confronting the masses for the opportunity to free himself and those who are like him. And he is feared for his capabilities, just like it happened to him in the lab.

The day he finally unleashed his powers was to protect himself from the people who tasered him on his father’s orders. He screamed and sent flying everyone in the room against the walls, breaking the white tiles. They feared him that day.

He just wants to be as brave as Magneto to confront those who wronged him.

He was in his voyage when he heard the always heavy footsteps of Neil. He knew both him and Susan were in the house due to the sounds they make, but Neil was getting to close to comfort, and the door of the room was open.

He grabbed the two comics he already found and jumped trough the open window, squatting down once he landed to reduce the noise to the minimum.

He acted in the right moment because once he was out Neil stoped at the door when he caught something moving in his peripheral vision.

The man furrowed his eye brows as he entered the room. It was a mess by his standards, just like Billy’s. But the place looked empty of any presence.

No one could fit under the bed and the closet had only clothes, the only option left was the open window that let the autumn wind enter.

The boy outside was tiptoeing along the backside of the house without making a single sound, still crouched. He turned around the corner and pressed his back to the wall just before the adult stuck his head out of the window. He waited patiently, keeping his breathing even. He could still hear him breathing heavily by the window, inspecting the surroundings.

Assured that everything was in order the man grunted an went back inside, not before closing the window and locking it from the inside. It’s not like that would stop Thirteen but the man didn’t know.

The boy waited some more time, just to be sure. He heard his footsteps reach the living room and take a seat in the old couch that creaked under his weight accompanied by Susan’s voice.

When the coast was clear he walked calmly back to the shed with the comics in hand ready to wait for Max to come back with the sweets she promised.

Coming back home wasn’t as easy or peaceful as the teenagers thought it would be.

Max waited for Billy for an hour before she realized that he was never going to pick her up, so she ended up walking all the way home.

The situation got worse when she found Neil and her mother waiting for them awake and in the living room.

Neil was fuming, already assuming and getting it right about why she came back home alone.

Max tried to lie about Billy dropping her at the front door and leaving to droop one of his friends and that he would be back soon. But the lie flew out of the window when said teenager appeared stumbling and staggering through the front door two minutes later.

When his father asked him why he was late Billy made the excuse that he had a flat tire.

Those simple words left both teenagers as liars and idiots. And yet, Neil’s anger was solely directed to his excuse of a son.

Max left to her room before everything started, she already knew what was coming. Neil beating the shit out of his son, Billy not having the courage to fight back and her mother watching, to much of a coward to either live the scene or stop her husband.

Max stayed in her room imagining she was in another place, in another world, pretending she didn’t know Billy enough to care about him. But actually, it was the opposite.

They’ve had a few moment between them in which they manage to understand each other silently. Without having to mention they’re main problem. Neil and Susan’s uncomfortable relationships that put they’re lives upside down.

But while she was creating walls to protect herself from her powerlessness, Thirteen had come out of the shed a few minutes ago. When he heard Max walking to and opening the front door to be exact.

He sneaked into her room, unlocking the window with his powers, waiting for her in her closet. But when she took longer than normally and he heard Neil’s voice grow more and more dangerous, he went back outside to see the living room trough the window.

He saw and heard everything that happened. He even witnessed Neil hitting Billy and beating him to the ground.

That man was like papa, it’s what he thought.

Watching Billy get beat made Thirteen’s blood boil so much he didn’t realize his powers where starting to act up.

The shelf beside them fell loudly startling a scream out of Susan and distracting Neil. The sudden pause at least got him to calm down and see his son seating in the floor, beaten and drunk. He thought that was enough, he didn’t want to leave a mark of obvious evidence in him, he didn’t need someone coming to ask questions.

Thirteen went back to Max’s room. He knocked on the window, getting her attention. She turned towards the boy, taking the mask off.

Once he was inside, he instinctively sat down beside her and gave her a hug.

Oh how much Max wanted to cry right there. But she hates crying. She didn’t let any tears come out but she leaned in to the boy’s hug.

The world doesn’t deserve someone like Thirteen, is what came to her mind. So young and so aware of the bad things and yet, he remains with a heart of gold.

They stayed like that for what felt like hours until everything calmed down. They waited when everyone was back in they’re room, and even a few minutes after that.

They sat in the girl’s bed, getting more comfortable.

Max dumped the bag full of candys in her bed between them. She had skittles, 3 musketeers, nerds, fireballs, monchitos, tunos and a lot more she didn’t know existed.

She was obviously trying to change the atmosphere and thankfully it was working.

“You know, I’ve been thinking…” mumbled Max with her mouth stuffed with whoppers, making sure to speak softly. She didn’t want anyone coming to knock on her door when she should be asleep. “Do you remember when magneto choose another name when he was on the run?” she asked the kid. Thirteen nodded, still munching in a bar of the three musketeers. “I was thinking. What if you do the same? Having a number as a name easily raises suspicions. But if you have another name…” she left the idea hanging, already noticing the understanding in the kids expression.

The boy opened his eyes wide, nodding a few times in happiness.

“Wanna choose a name?” She asked after she swallowed the chocolate.

With the most innocent eyes and without hesitation he said. “Magneto.”

Max laughed a bit and shook her head. The kid was to innocent for his own good. “Magneto is not a name for a person. That’s his title as a villain.” She explained.

Thirteen deflated a little bit. He wanted a name from magneto.

He thought for a moment under Max’s attentive eyes. Until he came with an idea. “Magnus.” He said in a dreamy tone of voice.

Max repeated the name in her head and in a whisper, testing how it sounds before nodding. “Magnus. I like that.” She extended her hand, expecting the kid to do the same.

Thirteen looked at her hand for a second, not getting the memo, but he trusts her so he raised his hand, blinking a few times when she grabbed it and shook it.

She smiled at him. “Nice to meet you, Magnus.” She said

Thirteen felt cheeks warming and a smile spreading in his face. He likes how it sounds. “Nice to meet you.” He whispered.

He now has a name, a friend and a place to stay. He has everything he ever wanted, and he’ll do everything in his power to protect it.

Any comment or constructive criticism are appreciated.